Meet Kristin

Injuries can put your livelihood on hold and be a daunting roadblock. But with help from a skilled and supportive rehabilitation care team, patients like Kristin can get back to their careers and cherished activities.

After a scary fall, Kristin had three torn tendons in her shoulder and needed rotator cuff surgery. Coming out of surgery, she was in severe pain and anxious about what would come next. From the moment she arrived at Spaulding Outpatient Center Peabody, Kristin’s feelings shifted. The welcoming nature of the team inspired optimism, and her physical therapist (PT), Jim Corrente, made an immediate impact. “I was afraid to go to therapy because of the pain that I was in,” said Kristin. “But Jim’s personality put my mind at ease. He joked around, was positive, and got me through it.”

That’s exactly what Spaulding aims to provide for all our patients—comprehensive care that makes you feel supported during your most challenging moments. “They cheered me on when I had days that I was down, and got me through the tough moments,” said Kristin. “They were so supportive, empathetic, and knowledgeable. They were good people.”

Kristin, a teacher who has worked in education for 25 years, made returning to the classroom a top priority—but at times that goal seemed out of reach. “As a teacher, I was scared that I would never be able to lift my arm and write on the board,” she said. Her PT Jim, whose wife also works in education, knew Kristin’s teaching goals, and designed her program so she could get her strength back in the classroom.

Along with her physical therapy routine, Jim encouraged Kristin to practice writing and typing to keep her engaged with the movement. Soon enough, she started to see progress and hope. “While I was on medical leave, I would stop by school to visit my students,” she said. “Being able to hold up a book and read to them on Valentine’s Day felt like a real milestone for me.” Today, she’s able to write on the smartboard again and has made her return to the classroom.

In addition to returning to teaching, Kristin is also returning to her active life. She’s gotten back to Zumba swimming classes at the YMCA that she enjoyed before the accident. She’s looking forward to summer bike rides with her husband along their neighborhood paths, an activity she thought was out of the question after surgery. “I was really scared in the beginning when I hurt myself. I never thought things would be back to normal, but they’re going to be,” said Kristin.

From physical therapy to occupational therapy, from leading-edge equipment to specialized clinical programs, everything we do at Spaulding’s Outpatient Centers is intentionally designed to maximize a patient’s recovery—and each element receives critical support from our donor community. Generous donations enhance the special programs that set Spaulding’s care apart. Thank you to the donors who help current and future patients achieve their rehabilitation goals and get back to their lives.